as in labor
very hard or unpleasant work
after years of toil in a sweatshop, Kim was finally able to start her own dressmaking business
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tangle
usually toils plural
something that catches and holds
a married woman hopelessly caught in the toils of an extramarital affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to labor
to devote serious and sustained effort
toiled for many years on the mammoth outdoor sculpture
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of toil
Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Five minutes of full-on grappling, a tangle of limbs and toil that felt a little like a fight for survival: concept of dignity redefined.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Marnie Hunter, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025
Mbappe toiled with minimal luck against goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili as Madrid fell four points behind leaders Barcelona with eight games to go.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toil
Noun
Others are brilliant master watchmakers who long toil for other brands and one day strike out on their own to prove their mettle.
—Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Five minutes of full-on grappling, a tangle of limbs and toil that felt a little like a fight for survival: concept of dignity redefined.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
The railway construction workers toiled six days a week, 70 to 80 hours per week for $1.50 per day, according to guide Eric Johnson.
—Marnie Hunter, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025
Mbappe toiled with minimal luck against goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili as Madrid fell four points behind leaders Barcelona with eight games to go.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toil
Verb
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Brightline has labored to increase ridership along its 170-mile extension to Orlando from West Palm Beach.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
20 May 2025
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Each creator contributed immensely to American art and culture, while laboring in an industry that, until recently, produced very little financial rewards or respect.—
Rob Salkowitz,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Verb
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By the time Bush left office, major banks and investment banks were struggling to stay alive, and that was just the ones that didn’t die in 2008.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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Anthony Edwards struggled mightily in the first half, but found his 3-point shot over the final two quarters, scoring 28 of his 36 points in the second half.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
11 May 2025
Verb
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Cupich described the pope as an organized and meticulous worker who is humble and strives to take in a variety of different perspectives.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
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Martinez also serves as a mentor for both the Reel Champs’ Executive Diversity Mentorship Program, as well as the Group Effort Initiative Mentorship Program, which strives to create a pipeline for members of underrepresented communities to establish long-term careers within entertainment.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
8 May 2025
Verb
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The job demanded long hours on my feet and working with my hands.—
Health,
Health,
20 May 2025
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Truman graduated from Texas Tech six months ago and now works for the Texas Senate under Senator Brian Birdwell on the border security committee.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Toil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toil. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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